Ana to open Ordina Open

Ana has been drawn to face Australian Alicia Molik in the first round of the Ordina Open. The tie is scheduled as the first match on Centre Court at 12pm Central European Time today, which means that Ana is effectively opening the tournament in s’Hertogenbosch.

Despite Molik’s ranking of 256, it is a very tricky draw for Ana: the Australian was ranked as high as No.8 16 months ago, before suffering an inner-ear infection that has since seen her play only sporadically on the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour.

However, at the French Open a fortnight ago the 25-year-old revealed that she is now fully fit and reached the third round on her least favourite surface. Her net-rushing style of play and heavy serve are ideally suited to grass, so Ana will have to make a fast start.

Ana is the No.5 seed. If she overcomes Molik she will face either Iveta Benesova or Sania Mirza in round two, neither of whom would be easy. To make things yet more challenging, Ana’s scheduled quarter-final opponent is top seed and world No.8 Elena Dementieva.

Flavia Pennetta and Ana’s compatriot Jelena Jankovic are possible semi-final opponents. Ana is in the opposite half of the draw to Dinara Safina and Maria Kirilenko, with whom she is playing doubles this week.

Ana and the Russian have been drawn to face third seeds Eleni Daniilidou and Anabel Medina Garrigues in round one.